MidAmerica Nazarene 40, McPherson 24 (final) — Aaron Lafitte runs for 115 yards and 2 TDs in the loss … Bulldogs up 24-23 headed into fourth quarter.

Ottawa 40, Hastings 34 — Ottawa rallies from 34-6 down to win game behind school record 13 catches for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns from sophomore wideout Clarence Anderson — a Wichita Southeast product.

It’s Clarence’s world and we’re just living in it.

Out. TA

THE LAW FIRM OF HITEM, STICKEM & BEATEM AKA THE FORT SCOTT COACHING STAFF

My plate is full this evening, with Fort Scott pulling out the 13-12 Region VI win over Butler and the KCAC getting two bids to the NAIA playoffs with undefeated, No. 5 Ottawa hosting Hastings (Neb.) andNo. 12 McPherson traveling to MidAmerica Nazarene for the first playoff appearance in school history. That’s 87 years, if you’re counting. Here’s the full NAIA playoff schedule, if you’re interested.

I covered the Ottawa-Friends game yesterday and I’ll tell you what … Ottawa looked really, really good. Like they got up 42-0 in the first 16 minutes good. And as far as finally getting to see Ethan Haller play? Dude could start for most of the teams in the MIAA, no doubt. He’s that good. Their defense? Not so much. And as far as Friends — if they would have finished that comeback, as one of our page designers told me — that’s the kind of thing you could go 40 years as a sportswriter and never see. Just nuts.

So … Fort Scott. Brooks Seeley covered that game today and yes, it was cold, and yes, he whined the whole time (LOL) but he got to see a great one. And because No. 3 Blinn beat No. 1 Navarro on Sunday in the SW Region title game, that means, no matter what, the Greyhounds are gonna be No. 1 in the next poll and get to play for the national title at the Citizens Bank Bowl in Pittsburg on Dec. 6 — let’s just hope they can get the No. 2 team to come play them, whoever that may be (Likely Blinn). Couldn’t have set itself up any better for Fort Scott.

I’m out. TA.

PS. I’VE BEEN SAYING ALL YEAR … HE’S NICE!!!

WHERE WE LAY OUR SCENE...

So the Big Game of the Year is tomorrow, right here in Wichita.

And I’ll be there, live and in living color. The last game I went to at Friends … wasn’t pretty. The Falcons got stomped by Northwestern Oklahoma State in the first round of the NAIA playoffs last season … although Friends won the game by forfeit later. But that’s another story.

So about tomorrow … forget about the tiebreakers for a moment, because if Friends wins, they’re in the playoffs. Which means Ottawa and McPherson sweat it out for an at-large bid. But don’t kid yourself, because there’s no way three teams from the KCAC make the playoffs. I think if Ottawa and McPherson both win, the Bulldogs are still going to be forced to sweat it out a little. Point blank: the KCAC doesn’t have much national respect when it comes to the postseason.

On the field, a lot of people think this game is gonna be won or lost through the air, with the key matchup being Ottawa wide receivers Clarence Anderson and Corey Schultz vs. Friends defensive backs Quinn Cunningham and Cole Perry. I think if Friends can find a way to put pressure on All-Everything QB Ethan Haller, then the Falcons can win. If not … they can’t get into a shootout with Ottawa.

I think that’s about enough from me.

My prediction: 42-28 Ottawa.

See you there.

TA

PHIL MCCLINTOCK

No. 5 seed Ottawa has knocked off top-ranked Sterling at Sterling, 84-78 in OT today. The Braves will face KWU in Monday’s title game — the winner of that game goes to the NAIA D-2 Tournament and the loser goes home — what an incredible story if Ottawa can win its second straight after falling apart late in the season — Phil McClintock led the way for the Braves with 23 points and nine rebounds. Story from Taylor Eldridge to come later.

UPDATE 10:04 PM: Sterling and Kansas Wesleyan will play in the women’s final — the Warriors routed Friends behind 27 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and four assists from Ashley Kraft, and KWU rocked Tabor with a double-double from Kaylean Dittmer (16 pts, 10 rebs) … and I know who won player of the year but I can’t tell you until Monday … Damn Embargoes! I know who the POY was for the men, too. Damn Embargoes!

Somehow Friends pulled off an incredible, 46-45 win over Ottawa last night at Austin-Adair Stadium.

Chris Bolander, Friends

Friends quarterback Alex Melugin bobbled the snap on what would have been the game-tying extra point, a la Tony Romo two years ago in the playoffs, and flipped a desperation pass into the end zone that tight end Chris Flanagan came down with for the W. Eagle correspondent Taylor Eldridge was covering the game and said Melugin kept referencing Romo in his post-game interview, basically that he
didn’t want to have the same fate.

So KCAC fans, what does this mean in the long run? Well, first, it means the Falcons aren’t invincible. They can be beat — not to say they will — but it could happen if Ottawa can push them like this at home. Bethany plays at Friends this Saturday and the Falcons should win that game handily.

I’m out.

-TA